2007 Yexiangwang Naka (W2T)

5g/85ml gaiwan, Toronto filtered tap. Medium-strong compression, small leaves blend. Yellow wash, looks quite dry stored. Slight vinegary aroma on wet leaf Sweet semi-aged profile. Clean taste. Medium thick liquor....

2004 Yao’an Fuyuanchang

Malaysian natural dry storage 5.5g/85ml gaiwan, Toronto filtered tap Wonderful sweet woody incense aroma on warmed dry leaf. Clear liquor, dark orange, concentrated. Concentrated flavour, woody incense, bittersweet, lots of...

Traditionally stored shou brick (C)

5.5g/90ml gaiwan, toronto filtered tap. Flaky, dry material, clearly has significant age and with some white frost indicating wet storage. Wash is surprisingly clean and clear. No geosmin aroma. Wet...

2003 Millenial Jingmai

5.5g/85ml gaiwan. Toronto filtered tap. Heavy geosmin storage aroma on warmed dry leaf. This has enjoyed Malaysian natural storage, but definitely on the wetter end. Clear dark orange liquor. Dark...

Water trials: “Untitled” from Arby

Buried deep in the niche that is the English language Puerh scene is the positively subterranean scene of constructed water. The first time I encountered this was with Lew Perin’s...

2019 Biyun Hao Yiwu Shengtai

5.5g/85ml gaiwan, Toronto filtered tap. Light initial steep, it takes a few steeps to get going. Very active, plenty of high floral notes, herbal notes, and darker savoury notes. Clearly...

2007 Chenyuan Hao Lao Ban Zhang

5g/85ml Hongni Yixing, Toronto filtered tap. 2020 Tabla solo by Pt. Swapan Ji. Strong compression and on the drier side. Lots of buds. Slight smoke on the empty cup after...

2021 W2T Hotline Space Coyote

5.3g/85ml gaiwan, Cedar Springs Water. Loose compression, large leaves, some vinegary sweet vine aroma on the dry leaf. There is a bit of a rubber note that jumps out in...

2007 Wistaria Lanyin

5g/85ml Hongni Yixing, Toronto filtered tap. Warmed leaf has a fruity fermentation aroma. High viscosity, light orange colour. Initial steep at <10s is thick, strong, good presence, not brassy, no...

Her Scents of Pu Er: film review

Thanks to the Hotdocs film festival currently under way in Toronto, I just saw the world premiere of the 2021 short film “Her Scents of Pu Er”. Directed, produced and...